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Lib Dems to 'change' UK economy Parties fight to offer 'change'
(about 2 hours later)
The Lib Dems would create a "different kind of economy", reducing reliance on the City, leader Nick Clegg will say as parties continue election campaigning. The three biggest parties are battling over who can offer voters "change" - following a Lib Dem poll surge.
Labour will launch its business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper. The Tories say only they can "guarantee change" - arguing a vote for the Lib Dems could lead to a hung parliament in which Gordon Brown remains PM.
Tory leader David Cameron will say the "free ride is over" and launch his plans to tackle welfare dependency. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said only his party "stands up for real change in the old economic and political order".
In Glasgow the Scottish National Party is launching its manifesto and says only it can protect public services. But Lord Mandelson said Labour had learned lessons from its time in power to offer "real change" in key areas.
Tuesday is also the deadline for people to register so they can vote on 6 May. Meanwhile, the SNP are class="bodl" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/scotland/8630998.stm">launching their manifesto in Glasgow.
'Reckless and greedy' Lord Mandelson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the "flux" in the polls - which have put Lib Dem support ahead of Labour, and in some, ahead of the Conservatives - following last week's prime ministerial TV debate was "real" and "palpable".
'Real change'
Lord Mandelson said: "I think the challenge for Labour and for Gordon Brown is to demonstrate and to succeed in putting across that he and the Labour government have used our experience of the global crisis and the crisis in our politics to learn some lessons, build on what we've achieved in government and to offer some real change in certain key areas - albeit in new very constraining financial circumstances."
He said those areas included rebuilding the economy on "stronger foundations", reforming public services further and overhauling "aspects of our parliament".
I think people want change and I think increasingly in the next two weeks the message we will want to get across is only the Conservatives can guarantee change Liam Fox SNP launching election manifesto UK election at-a-glance: 20 April
"I also think people are coming to the view that if they really want change in politics they've got to change the electoral system as well," the business secretary said.
Mr Brown has promised a referendum on changing the first-past-the-post voting system to an "alternative vote" (AV) system in which candidates are ranked in order of preference.
The Lib Dems have long campaigned to change the voting system to a form of proportional representation - although they prefer another system, the single transferable vote.
Hung parliament
Opinion polls published in two of Tuesday's newspapers suggest the Liberal Democrats continue to enjoy more support than Labour, but less than the Conservatives.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the Conservatives had changed a party election broadcast on Monday in an attempt to reclaim the mantle of change from the Lib Dems.
The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the BBC the Tories "have to take" Mr Clegg "seriously" - and say the surge in the polls showed "people want change".
"I think people want change and I think increasingly in the next two weeks the message we will want to get across is only the Conservatives can guarantee change.
"Because a vote from Labour and the Lib Dems could leave us stuck with Gordon Brown as prime minister and the uncertainty of a hung parliament could kill the economic recovery... The thing is that change is a process not a destination."
'More unpredictable'
Asked about Mr Cameron's new party election broadcast on Tuesday, Mr Clegg said: "Over the last few weeks, he has changed his policies, he has changed his ad agency and last night he changed his election broadcast, but that doesn't mean he can change Britain.
"The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats."
Mr Clegg used his daily news conference to set out plans to split up the banks, to separate low risk deposit-taking banking from high risk investment banking, and set a new 10% levy on bank profits.Mr Clegg used his daily news conference to set out plans to split up the banks, to separate low risk deposit-taking banking from high risk investment banking, and set a new 10% levy on bank profits.
He also referred to allegations that investment bank Goldman Sachs defrauded investors during the sub-prime housing crisis and said they should be suspended as government advisers. The bank denies the charges. But he continued to face questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats.
Anything is possible and a growing number of people are starting to believe you can do things differently Nick Clegg SNP launching election manifesto
Hesaid Labour had been "asleep at the wheel" as the banking crisis developed, while the Tories were now the "party of choice for the bankers".
Mr Clegg said some bankers had been operating with "recklessness and great greed" which had "disfigured banking" and said a "small clique" of big banks had held the whole system hostage.
Banks had been "hoarding rather than lending" money and said he believed they should be forced to lend money to viable British businesses.
He continued to face questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour - who opinion polls suggest are in third place - if they won the most seats.
Mr Clegg said he could not predict the future and it was "more exciting and more unpredictable than any election I can remember".Mr Clegg said he could not predict the future and it was "more exciting and more unpredictable than any election I can remember".
"Anything is possible and a growing number of people are starting to believe you can do things differently." Labour is launching its business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper.
'Hope and fear' Gordon Brown will say his party backs business but believes "that government must create the conditions within which firms prosper".
He said it was turning into a "contest between hope and fear" - hope among voters that they might "do something different" and fear from the "old parties that people might do something different". "The Conservatives believe that growth can happen by itself so long as government gets out of the way, but growth doesn't happen by chance. That is the economics of yesterday."
On Sunday Gordon Brown demanded a "special investigation" into Goldman Sachs after reports that the bank was to pay bonuses totalling £3.5bn, with the prime minister calling the system one of "moral bankruptcy". And the Conservatives will launch plans to tackle welfare dependency. David Cameron will say the "free ride is over".
Government is needed to pull away the barriers and obstacles that hold business back Gordon Brown
He will campaign on Labour's plans for business on Tuesday and continue his attacks on Conservative economic policies. Mr Brown will say his party backs business but believes "that government must create the conditions within which firms prosper".
"The Conservatives believe that growth can happen by itself so long as government gets out of the way but growth doesn't happen by chance. That is the economics of yesterday, government is needed to pull away the barriers and obstacles that hold business back."
Meanwhile David Cameron will be highlighting the Conservatives' plans to tackle welfare dependency and say the "free ride is over".
He will say, if the Tories win power, they would introduce a single "work programme" by the end of 2010, to "get Britain working again".He will say, if the Tories win power, they would introduce a single "work programme" by the end of 2010, to "get Britain working again".
Plans involve helping people find work and start up businesses and "work clubs" to help unemployed people learn skills and get support - as well as sanctions for anyone who refuses to look for work. Plans involve helping people find work and start up businesses, and "work clubs" to help unemployed people learn skills and get support - as well as sanctions for anyone who refuses to look for work.
Mr Cameron will say a new "welfare contract" will make sure everyone "takes responsibility and plays their part". In Glasgow the Scottish National Party is launching its manifesto and says only it can protect public services.
Opinion polls Tuesday is also the deadline for people to register so they can vote on 6 May.
Opinion polls published in two of Tuesday's newspapers suggest the Liberal Democrats continue to enjoy more support than Labour but less than the Conservatives.
A YouGov poll for the Sun put the Conservatives up one at 33%, while the Lib Dems dropped two points to 31% and Labour gained one to stand at 27%. Interviews with 1,509 adults took place on Sunday and Monday.
And a week-on-week Opinium survey for the Daily Express suggested the Tories were down seven points to 32%, the Lib Dems had risen 12 points to 29% and Labour fell five points to 26%. For this, 1,957 adults were interviewed between Friday and Monday.
In a third poll the Tories were on 32%, up one percentage point on Monday, while the Lib Dems and Labour lost and gained one point respectively, leaving them level at 28%.
The ComRes poll for ITV News and the Independent interviewed 1,003 adults on Saturday and Sunday.
Row over 'peers'
Meanwhile two business leaders who backed the Tories' plans for a National Insurance cut were nominated to become peers in January, the Conservatives have confirmed.
But the party insisted the move was not linked to the campaign against Labour's planned rise in National Insurance.
The Guardian said the appointments of Next chief executive Simon Wolfson and JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford would be announced "imminently".
Tuesday is the final opportunity for people to register to include their names on the electoral roll and ensure they have the right to vote in the general election.
Forms are available from local authorities and the Electoral Commission, which says an estimated 3.5m people in the UK are not currently listed.
The Scottish Green Party is due to launch its manifesto later.